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AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Major Gallagher, representing the United States Government, who has been on a visit to the colony for the purpose of purchasing beef for the American troops in the Philippines, left Wellington for Sydney on June 8. Prior to his departure, negotiations were opened with Mr P. T. Moore, of Johnson\ille, for a shipment of 1000 tons of frozen beef. In the event of busine-s resulting, a special steamer, it is stated, will be engaged to eonvdv the moat direct to Manila.

Mr W. Cowan, of Enfiold, the noted breeder of Ayrshire*, lias lately sold one cow and three linfera to Mr A. Paten, Brisbane, (.Jue-e inland. Mr Pa-ten, who is a judge ami breeder of Ayrshire*, came over himself and selected the cuttle, and one of the heifers he chooe has already distinguished her>elf m th-- show ring, being a first prize-taker at both Oanuni and Chi iatchurch shows. This is tho first lot of Mr Cowan's cattle that has gone to Queensland for the last 18 v-oar-. — Oamaru Mail.

The instalments of fines inflicted upon the Canterbury slaughtermen in connection with the recent strike continue to be paid with satisfactory regularity (3dV3 the Press), and of the £600 du<?, between £300 and £400 has been paid, the money being received by the Labour Department at the ra-te of £25 a week.

The chairman of the Canterbury Fruitgrowers' Association at a meeting on Saturday night 6aid:— "lf Tasmanian fruit is admitted free into New Zealand it will collar the markets, and the only thing left for us to do will be to chop dowi^ our ojehards and go in for cow-spanking. "' Owing to the shortage of green feed, hay. and root crops this season, the milkmen of Ashburton have experienced some difficulty in keeping up a supply of milk to meet the demands of their customers.

The wheat market, though quiet, is evidently not lifeless (says last Thursday c Timaru Herald), as a sale of 600 sacks of \elvet wheat was made yesTerday by a Timaru merchant, at 4s 3d on trucks at fit. Andrews. This Line was purchased for a southern miller. Several inquiries were received from outride buyers, but no other sales were ma<Je because- thco were no sellers. The price of oaU was unchanged. A new feature was introduced at A<'<li'ifrton 9tock market on Wednesday last, when the fat sheep ?a!e was started before ihe conclusion of tho fat lamb sale. This was the result of a conference which took place on Tuesday between representatives of the Saleyards Company and the auctioneers, at which it was agreed to start the fat sheep sale in future at 1 o'clock instead of waitinir for the conclusion of

the fat lamb sale, ac had been the custom in the past. It was also agreed that the time limit of one minute for the sale of each pen of fat sheep should be more strictly ineisted upon. The idea of the conference was to avoid the selling of fat i sheep in the dark, and yesterday this result was almost achieved, only xhe last few pens being disposed of after dark. The following is an analysis of stock slaughtered for human consumption during May at the Ashburtcn abattoir: — Cattle: 125 slaughtered, none condemned. Pigs: 91 slaughtered, one partially condemned. Sheep and lambs: £52 slaughtered, four wholly condemned. On" Saturday, Bth inst., Mr R. Leslie Orbell, secretary to the late South Canterbury Bay (Exhibition) Committee, received two handsome presents as souvenirs of his successful services in connection with the bay. The Exhibition General Committee decided to divide a surplus of £40 between Mr Orbell and Mr Bremner (of Waimate), who had collaborated in designing the bay, and to Mr Orbell was presented, in view of his approaching marriage, a handsome 3olid silver tea set. The committee of the Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Association, by subscription among themselves, provided and presented to him a silver rose-bowl as an appreciation of his services to agriculture in the fitting up of the Exhibition bay. A meeting of the General Committee of the Aahburton A. and P. Association was held on the 11th inst. Mr T. E. Upton (president) occupied the chair, and there v«as a large attendance of members. Regarding the turnip_ blight at present prevalent in the county, Mr T. W. Kirk, Government Biologist, wrote stating that the trouble was most likely due to the phoma disease, which wa3 very prevalent this season in both islands. At present, however, he was unable to visit the district. The winter show executive reported that the entries generally showed an increase, and that the fixture promised to be a better exhibition than any previously held by the association. Some discussion took place regarding the small bird nui6ance. Mr J. Bruce said that the Wakanui Road Board had recommended the County Council to procure a supply of King's bird traps, but the council had: not entertained the idea. Mr J. C. N. Grigg said that if there was anything very great in the efficacy of these traps it would pay someone to take it up. An agent who had' experimented with the traps in his district had said, however, that the practice of setting traps in the same place could not be carried out effectually continually. The first time he had caught sparrows and linnets ; the second time more linnets than sparrows, and the third time all linnets; the sparrow got too clever to be caught. The speaker's father had got a man from the Old Country to poison small birds by a special recipe, and he had been very successful, killing about 3000 at one time. The farmers should try distributing poisoned wheat in the months of August, September, and October. Messrs Cairns and Blackley also spoke as to the success they had obtained in destroying small birds with poisoned wheat. Mr Grigg moved that every farmer should be advised to act and use his energies against the small birds. Mr Allen seconded the motion, which was carried. The committee of the Timaru A. and P. Association held the monthly meeting on trie Bth inst., Mr R. Irving in the chair. M.* Baxter, local manager for the Christchurch Meat Company, offered to renew the company's donation of private prizes, but wished the conditions to be altered, by doing- away with the stipulation that the sheep should be killed at the company's ■w oiks. They proposed to give prizes of 7gs and 3g« for five fat wethers or maiden ewee euitable for the export trade, the general all-round value of the sheep, both skin and carcase to be taken into consideration by the judge in making his award. Minimum weight to bo not less than 4-Blb (freezing weight), maximum not less than 721b; minimum average not Ices than 541b. Mr Orbell said that he had contended for the abolition of the killing condition all along. The Seeretay pointed out that Dalgety and Co. i offered a prize for the same sort of sheep, omitting limits, of weight, and Mr Lowry said hi-s firm would change the object of | the prize. — The secretary of the Canterbury Association sent conditions ami forms of judging cards for farmers' sons' judging competitions, ac used at Christchurch. At i Christchurch the farmers judged the unplaced sheep and the cattle before the judges. The President suggested that owners might object to their stock being knocked about by amateur judges. Mr Rhodes doubted whether it would be woith the trouble, and the President said it would not. It would be better to appoint young men to go with the old' ones to be shown what the points were. Mr Bassett moved and Mr Guinness seconded — '"That judging competition., be held for young farmers similar to those held in Christchurch." The j motion was put and lost by a large majority, very few voting for it.—Recommendations by sub-committees for the amendment of the prize schedule were then considered. A proposal to omit reference to Flock Book and selling 1 price in the class of "fuc flock rams"' raised the question whether the omission would not permit of .«tud rams being entered. Mr Grant paid . Christchurch and Timaru societies were the only ones that had the condition re Flock Book. The recommendation was adopted. In three-horse draught horse , teams it was agreed that these 6houkl be shown without harness, as harness was a ] difficulty with exhibitors from a distance. A new class for draught mares, two yearold and upward', was adopted, the preei- I dent offering a prize of £5 5s for euch a j class. — The Finance Committee recom- | mended placing £250 on fixed deposit, and this was agreed to. — Three new members were elected. The General Committee of the Canteri bury A. and P. Association met on Wednes- ' day last. Mr H. E. Peryman (president) occupied the chair. Accounts amounting to £108 17s 8d were passed for payment, including an amount of £58 12s lid to be refunded to sundry persons for merino cup wool, 6old on account of the exhibitors. | The Canterbury Saleyards Company, in reply to the association's letter regarding the sale of «tore stock in the fat pens at tho saleyarcis. wrote stating that the directors did not feel justified in making any alteration at nro.sent Vendors would quite possibly re-sent the shifting of the responsibility of properly drafting stock fiom them to the employees of the yards. At present tho company- reser\c<l the right to shift stock from one part cf the yard to

another if the classification was wrong. Mr Lowrie, who first brought the matter up expressed gratification at the courteous reply. He could not expect the employees to take the responsibility of classing tho stock. The fat lamb market was the ruling market of tho colony, and was looked to by all the markets in Australasia. The present arrangement met all he could desire, but he thought the provision now in force could be made a little more emphatic. He moved that the company should be asked to make its classing a little more precise. It was not by any means a good thing to see lambs in the fat pens selling at 12e 6d, while others were selling at £L The motion was carried.— The New South Wales Agricultural and Pastoral Association's Union wrote in connection with its resolution to obtain from New Zealand the names jof a number of eminently qualified judges whom it would be possible to engage for judging in that State, and suggesting the advisableness of nominating judge.6 in the various States, with the view of exchanging. The letter was referred to the Stock Committee. — The Finance Committee recommended that the offer of the Grand Stand Company should be accepted — namely, that £100 annually should be balloted out among the members, so that in six years the grand stand would Become the property of the association, on, which condition the company would admit members and lady companions free. The recommendation was adopted. — Reports were receiv«d from the various committees suggesting several alterations in the prize schedule. After discussion the recommendations were generally approved, and the reports were adopted. — Four new members were elected. Dairy-farmers (says the Poverty Bay Herald) are beginning to feel the effects of the shortage of feed for the stock, although it is only what may be expected at this time of the year. The Kia Ora Company's returns show a falling off of 26+,6501b in the comparison between the past two months. The suppliers are supporting the company well, the difference in the returns being due to the early winter weather.

It is estimated that there are 1,000,000 Angora goats in. the United States, yielding atmually upwards of £150,000 worth of mohair. This is readily consumed by a rapidly-growing American industry — the manufacture of mohair goods and products. The Government inspector -of foods (Dr A. A. Brown) has prepared a statement giving his explanation why Victorian chilled meat bears unfavourable comparison in many cases with New Zealand beef and mutton in the British markets. The feeding of stock intended for the frozen meat trade is, he points out, a more important matter than many people realise. In New Zealand the fattening animals are fed on special fodders, such as lucerne and English grasses, whereas in many cases in Victoria stock- intended for slaughter are grazed over wide pastures, to the detriment of flesh quality. Lucerne he regards as the "king of fodders" for fattening sheep and cattle, being rich in protein. Saltbush is also valuable as a maker of good flesh, but the plant, not being as yet cultivated on a scale of utility for stock-feed-ing purposes, cannot be considered as of practical importance in connection with this matter. Climate is aleo a factor in the making of meat goods intended for export, in which high quality — solidity, firmness, weight, and flavour — count for so much. The teaching of experience has been that the colder the climate the better the meat. The tallow titre tests have demonstrated this in the past. New Zealand tallow has been scientifically proved to be superior to Victorian ; Victorian tallow has shown a better titre than that of New South Wales, while Queensland tallow is the poorest of all. The value of the tallow is taken to be an index of the quality of the stock from which it is derived. Climate and feeding largely determine the quality of both classes of product. Other factors in the making of good and inferior meat for the Londcn market are methods of slaughtering, bleeding, dressing, cleansing, bagging, chilling, freezing, thawing, etc. Frozen mutton, when rapidly thawed, has a wet and dull appearance. The flesh is apt to have a pink hue, while the fat becomes too white. These faults are moro marked in beef than in mutton, and as beef ia cut into quarters the dripping away of fluids that occurs produces a sodden appearance, which is detrimental to the goods in the eyes of buyers for the trade. It ia reported 'says the Clutha Leader) that the syndicate which recently acquired Clydevale has offered a donation of £10,000 towards building the Balclutha-Tuapeka Mouth railway. In consequence of this offer a meeting of the league is likely to be held soon lo urge upon the Government the acceptance of the offer and the necessity of tho immediate construction of the line. Tho champion cow at the Levin State farm, Mary, a Holstein-Shorthorn crocs, was found by the Farmers' Union visitors the other day to have a remarkable record. She dived on August 15, 1906, and was still milking. She had given 12,9311b of milk, her test was 3.8, while her yield of butterfat was 491.31b. "A herd of cows like that would bo all right," observed one dairyman, and his sentiments found an instant echo. "Spero," writing in the Live Stock Journal, says : '"We do, undoubtedly, want a national pig to inecfc the requirements of our bacon factoi«. One breed is too fat,

another is too lean. At present the ideal of the factor can only be attained by a first cross." The Hon. John Barr, M.L.C, and Mr H. G. Ell, M.H.R., addressed a well-atten-ded meeting at St. Andrews (South Canterbury) on Wednesday last, the audience being composed of farmers and farm workers in fairly equal proportions. In the course of the speakers' remarks they * intimated to the farmers present that they hoped there would, be * conference- between representatives of tho Farm Labourers' Union, and! Farmers' Union: before the sittings of the Arbitration Court. The Farm Labourers' Union would welcome such a conference, even at the eleventh^ hour. At such a conference many items in the statement of conditions submitted by the workers might be modified, and ifc was within the realm of possibility that a settlement might be. arrived at which wouldf make appearance before the court unnecessary. One farmer present assured tho speakers that he was paying the wages, asked for in the statement of conditions, but he wanted to say hat some matters relating to hours and wages did not appear to him altogether workable. Personally he would be in favour of such, a conference am. that suggested. The addresses of the speakers were listened to attentively,' and at tho conclusion a number of question* were asked 'and answered- A vote o£ thanks was accorded the speakers.

According to the Ashburton Guardian a Rangitata Plains farmer assigns ac one reason of the lack of local competition "• for horses the introduction of the traction engine for ploughing purposes. It Bad been proved that the system of ploughing was much cheaper than by horse work. One traction engine with & full complement of ploughs could turn over as much ground in a day as five ordinary four-horse teams. However, the chief cause of the inactivity in the horse market is said to be the high price ruling for oats and chaff." The small bird nuisance may be observed! in a marked degree at Lyttelton just now, especially near the wharves and grain sheds, where heavy flocks of sparrowß areforegathering for the winter season. Thevisitors come every winter in hordes to> sample grain and other trifles that become elusive in the country during the colder months. They sun themselves on the gables, of the railway sheds, and make regular descents on grain trucks at intervals. Thousands may be seen together in a very small compass, but they are absolutely im* mune from the operations of the act thafc_ put 6 a price on their heads, and the Borough Council has never been called upqn to pay any claim in respect to their slaughter. An energetic trapper could soon make capi* tal out of the mission if Che birds pairo* nised less frequented places, but there is very little room for trapping 1 or shootingon the foreshore. However, it is certain that some action at Lyttelton- could do muck to abate the nuisance later on- ia tfa» country.

c A Manure used. c S o m v ■a © o I Crop ] Roots. Crop per acre. per 1 acre. Tops. IS II I s 0 . c Remarka. 14 17 21 M'aitlcn Tsland f?n»no Turnip MaDure X ft F Supi rphosph*te A .. No Manure [Superphosphate (Sulphate if Ammonia Sclphate of Potatli .. Superplkotph«te Sulphate of Ammonia Superphosphate Sulphate of Potash .. Sulphate of Ammonia Sulphate of Potaih .. Basic Slag Sulphate of Ammonia Sulphate of Potath .. 'St«»med 15< nes | a ulphate cf Ammonia pSulphatep Sulphate of Potash .. Supfrpho^phatc Nitrate of Soda Sulphate of Potash .. SupcrpVo^iihate .. Dried 15 ood Sulphate cf Pota»b ... Cwt. 2 2 o 11/4 14/4 10/t c. qr. lbs :5 18 2 8 57 4 219 25 IS 3 11 1 U 0 23 | t. c qr. lbs] A 8 0 11 3 15 2 13 2 19 1 8 0 ]0 0 14 t. c. qr. lb« 24 5 2 14 25 11 1 11 23 19 2 3 S}l 6}d 5Jd fAgricola's.) -( Bl{ 1 2H i I, ( I] 4 I 1} 2 > i y 2 S * r !) 2734 11 1 20 5 6 0 19 - 32 18 0 12 LCd Complete* 1?/."0 5 0 0 i 6 1 20 I 28 11 2 20 7» No Potasb* 13/ti 31 15 3 6 5 11 2 2 29 2 1 26 7M No Nrtrogen. 16/6 1 16 3 4 0 14 1 4 0 3 124 s*d NoKbomhori* . Add. £6/£9837 6 2 1 20* fl 13 1 £7 Hid Complete 3V30 19 1 22 6 0 1 22 29 8 0 14 170! Complete, 25/11 29 U 0 6 4 1S 1 17 28 0 3 18 II id Complete. 23/27 U 3 16 4 6 1 20 2d 1 218 lO}d Cciaplet«, I _ I

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW19070619.2.11.4

Bibliographic details

Otago Witness, Issue 2779, 19 June 1907, Page 6

Word Count
3,290

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS. Otago Witness, Issue 2779, 19 June 1907, Page 6

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS. Otago Witness, Issue 2779, 19 June 1907, Page 6

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